Social:

RSS:

App:

The voice of the Pope and the Church in dialogue with the World

language:

Vatican Radio

Home /
Justice & Peace

Holy See calls for immediate ceasefire in Syria

23/01/2014

SHARE:

(Vatican Radio) The Holy See has called for an “immediate” ceasefire in Syria, during
the Geneva 2 Conference in Switzerland. The leader of the Holy See’s Delegation,
Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi said the “violence has to stop because too much suffering
has been inflicted on all the people of Syria and on the entire region.” The international
peace talks are looking for a compromise which can end the conflict in Syria.

1. Representatives of the Syrian population and of the international
community come together today, at this Geneva II Conference, to take concrete steps
towards a peaceful future for the Syrian people and the Middle East. Confronted with
the indescribable suffering of the Syrian people, a sense of solidarity and common
responsibility prompts us to engage in a dialogue which is based on honesty, mutual
trust, and concrete steps. Dialogue is the only way forward. There is no military
solution to the Syrian crisis. The Holy See is convinced that violence leads nowhere
but to death, destruction and no future.

2. My Delegation is happy to contribute
to this critical process, in itself a sign of a political will that gives priority
to negotiations over guns, to people over inordinate power. For this reason all religious
leaders, in particular, converge on this conviction that violence has to stop because
too much suffering has been inflicted on all the people of Syria and on the entire
region. Recent meetings of religious representatives of different confessions have
reconfirmed this constructive approach that is based on the equal dignity of every
person created in the image of God and open to others.

3. The time has come
to take concrete steps to implement the good intentions expressed by all parties to
the current conflict. In this context, the Holy See renews its urgent appeal to all
the parties concerned for the full and absolute respect for humanitarian law and offers
the following proposals:

a. As invoked by all men and women of good will, an
immediate cease-fire without preconditions and the end to violence of all kinds should
become a priority and the urgent goal of these negotiations. All weapons should be
laid down and specific steps should be taken to stop the flow of arms and arms funding
that feed the escalation of violence and destruction to leave room for the instruments
of peace. The money invested in arms should be redirected to humanitarian assistance.
The immediate cessation of violence is in the interest of all. It is a humanitarian
imperative, and represents the first step to reconciliation. b. The cessation
of hostilities should be accompanied with increased humanitarian assistance and the
immediate start of reconstruction. Millions have been displaced and are in life threatening
situations. Family life has been disrupted. Educational and health facilities have
been destroyed or made inoperative. c. The war brought about the economic collapse
of many regions of Syria. Reconstruction efforts should start together with negotiations
and should be sustained by the generous solidarity of the international community.
In this process, young people should be given a preferential consideration so that
through their employment and work they may become protagonists for a peaceful and
creative future for their country. d. Community rebuilding calls for dialogue
and reconciliation sustained by a spiritual dimension. The Holy See strongly encourages
all religious faiths and communities in Syria to reach a deeper mutual knowledge,
a better understanding and a restoration of trust.e. It is important that regional
and international powers favor the ongoing dialogue and that regional problems be
addressed. Peace in Syria could become a catalyst of peace in other parts of the region,
and a model of that peace that is so urgently needed.

4. Beyond the tragedies
of the current crisis, new opportunities and original solutions for Syria and its
neighbors can come about. A just approach would be to recognize that the existence
of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity and pluralism should not be a negative
factor or, worse, an inevitable source of conflict, but rather the possibility for
every community and individual to contribute their gifts to the common good and the
development of a richer and more beautiful society. There is a role for everyone where
citizenship provides equal participation in a democratic society with equal rights
and duties. In this way no one is forced to leave his country because of intolerance
and the inability to accept differences. In fact, the equality assured by common
citizenship can allow the individual to express for himself and in community with
others the fundamental values all persons hold indispensable to sustain their inner
identity. Such an understanding and development of society opens the way to a durable
and fruitful peace.

Mr. Secretary General,

5. Since the Syrian crisis
began, the Holy See has been following its developments with deep concern and has
consistently advocated that all parties involved commit themselves to the prevention
of violence and to the provision of humanitarian assistance to all victims. The voice
of the Holy Father has been raised on numerous occasions to remind people of the
futility of violence, inviting a negotiated resolution of problems, calling for a
just and equitable participation of everyone in the life of society. Together with
an invitation to pray for peace, He has promoted an active response on the part of
Catholic organizations and institutions to the emerging needs. Memorable remains
the Holy Father’s proposal for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for peace in Syria and
the Middle East that was received worldwide with an overwhelmingly positive response.

6. Allow me to conclude by echoing the words of Pope Francis: “I ask each
party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close
themselves in solely on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers
[and sisters] and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and
negotiation, and so overcome blind conflict.” “It is neither a culture of confrontation
nor a culture of conflict which builds harmony within and between peoples, but rather
a culture of encounter and a culture of dialogue, this is the only way to peace.”

Mr.
Secretary General,

The people of Syria have lived together in peace throughout
history, and can do so again.